St. Paul daily globe., 1887-09-18
The SILENT SUFFERER.
Pathetic Scenes at the Home of Hal
Reid's Victim.
LOOKS LIKE AN ANGEL.
Probably She Will Die---Plan Proposed
For Her Financial
Aid.

A full knowledge of the circum-
stances surrounding the condition of
poor Maud ComSon, the victim of Hal
Ried's lust, would cause the public
heart to bleed. The silent sufferer lies
OH her bed of pain, without even the
common necesSaries of life. In the chill
air of yesterday morning not even was
there sufficient bed covering for her
protection, with the aid of small sheet
iron stove, In which broken cigar box
and some waste paper gave out Scanty
heat. In the bed lay the feeble child,
with look almost unearthly ON her
face. The small, delicate features were
surmounted by curly moss of fair hair,
beneath which cleaned her bright blue
eyes.
.'She looks like an angel"
This was the remark of benevolent
lady who had stepped in and whose
eyes were SuffuSed with tears as she
gaZed on the living wreck before her.
There lay a mere child, reduced to
eighty pounds weight and silently suf-
fering agony which will wear her life
away. She was never strong and an
ordinary ten-year-old boy might have
OverpoWered her. The touch of con-
SUMPTION was already laid upon her
life and the slight taint of Scrofula in her
blood. 1t is hardly possible she
will ever walk in the sunlight again.
Her physicians are doing what medical
skill will avail, but there is no recipro-
cal assistance by nature. Her aged and
broken-hearted mother, with siIvery
hair and sightless orbs, is often her
only attendant. 1t is a case that would
draw tears from heart of stone. The
physician had ordered some medicated
cotton, but there was not even enough
money for that, and the poor mother
had torn, from all old comfort. little
bit of SOiled and Specked cotton and was
forlornly wondering if that would do.
Heart-broken mother and stricken
child.
Mrs. Reid, the wife of the man who
will answer for this crime, has written
the mother and the letter is blotted with
tears. Mrs. Reid had returned the let
tiers written her by her gracelesS huS-
band because they would assist in con-
vlctlng him and now she has written
words of solace to the mother. She had
heard of the letter in which Reid offered
to get divorce and marry his pitiful
vlctim-the wolf marry the lamb. land
she wrote Mrs. COmSOn concerning it.
She said:
Take your daughters hands and
fold them across her bosom. Say THY
VIII Be DOne,' and lay her beneath six
feet of earth, but never permit that.
What she suffered for a half hour l
endured for six long years for the sake
of my child and now, thank God, have
her and will be free from him."
This from the injured wife to the in
Jured girl: 1t tells more than could be
told in volumes.
If the ppOaJO11c haort of a.
could only see into that room of suffer
ing. What relief would come in
golden showers. The kind and loving
sister and the great-hearted brother-in-
law. have done all they could, but
their means are small and it is
not tenough. Those who know are worn
wit words of praise. But here, in the
midst of this great city, with its mill
ions of wealth, its palaces of luxury and
its untold money daily spent in idle
pleasures, is this scene of sorrow and
suffering. 1t needs only to be told. The
past shows what Minneapolis can do.
The past shows that the great heart of
the city is sympathetic and is easily
a fund as gift to the child and that it
will meet a quick response there is no
question. Frederic Book, the manager
of the Pence opera house, has declared
next Friday night benefit for Miss
Comson and has headed list with S25.
Richard Chute duplicated the amount
and others are coming in. The city will
be canvaSsed for the sale of tickets to
the benefit, and who will refuse? 1t is
said the Pence will, at the prices, con-
tain but $500, but there is no reason why
there should not be enough sold to raise
ten times that sum. The cause is
worthy one and the result should be
creditable. Tickets will also be on sale
at the GLOBE Office, where subscriptions
will be also received and transmitted.
What will Minneapolis do about it?